Term limits for legislators, removing racist language from constitution are among plans approved by Alabama Senate committee

View full sizeThe Birmingham NewsLegislators could serve only three terms, under one plan under review. (The Birmingham News / Joe Songer)

MONTGOMERY -- A Senate committee today approved proposals to limit how long lawmakers can serve in the Legislature, make it more difficult to override a governor's veto and remove Jim Crow-era language from the Alabama Constitution.

All three bills are proposed constitutional amendments that would have to be approved by voters to be enacted.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said his bill to remove segregationist language from the state constitution would demonstrate that Alabama has moved beyond its racist history.

The committee also voted 4-1 for a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the votes needed to override a gubernatorial veto. Now, a majority vote of all elected legislators is needed. Under the proposal, a two-thirds vote of all legislators would be needed.

Brewbaker said the current veto threshold of 18 in the Senate and 53 in the House of Representatives makes it too easy for the Legislature to override a veto and gives the governor no negotiating leverage.

Sen. Billy Beasley, who cast the dissenting vote, said he was concerned the bill would make it too difficult to ever override a veto.

"I think it maybe gives the governor too much power," Beasley said.

The committee also voted 4-1 for a proposal to limit legislators to three consecutive terms.